Snow converter



Dec. 2 1924.

o. T. uecs SNOW CONVERTER Filed Feb. 4. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M a a I N VEN TOR.

Dec. 2 1924. 1,517,949

O. T. BUGG snow CONVERTER Filea F 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

reuse UNEFEE ETATES PATENT QFFEQE.

OWEN T. BU'GG, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR. TO AMERICAN PRODUCTION COMPANY, OF BEACON, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION.

- $NOW CONVERTER- Application filed February 4, 1924. Seriatl 1T0..690,5?5.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OwnN T. BUGG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland Heights, in the county of Cuyalioga, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snow Converters, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a device for removing snow from streets, pavements, sidewalks, car tracks and the like, and has for its object to provide an effective apparatus by means of which the removal of the snow can be accomplished in a very quick and economical manner.

In carrying out the invention a heated drum is brought into contact with the snow whereby the snow is melted and converted into water, which will be carried off by the drainage and sewage system of the town or city. The invention contemplates. novel means for heating and mounting the drum, whereby the drum is effectively presented to the snow and can be heated to the proper temperature for quickly converting the snow into water.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character which can be readily mounted upon a truck, so as to be moved along the streets or sidewalks to be cleared, and whichwill melt the snow and convert it into water at a fraction of the cost of removing the snow in bulk by the usual method of shoveling it into wagons ortrucks and carting it away.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a truck which is provided with a snow converting or melting device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the forward end of the truck.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the snow melting roller, showing the two sets of burners for heating the same, said burners being arranged upon the inlaterally as the truck is turned in either direction.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view through the joint, taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional View through the swivel joint which is provided in the pipe connection to enable the snow melting roller to be swung upwardly into an inoperative position when it is not in use.

Figure 9 is a detail view of the elevating means for the heating drum.

lorresponding and like parts are referred to throughout the following description and indicated on all of the views of the drawings by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate one of many possible embodiments of the invention, the reference character A designates a motor truckupon which the snow converting apparatus is mounted. This motor truck may be of any well known and conventional construction and no claim to novelty is based thereon. A tank or reservoir 1 is mounted upon the body of the truck and is intended to contain a supply of fuel oil for use in feeding the burners which are utilized for heating the snow melting or converting roller 2 at the forward end of the truck. The fuel tank 1 is provided with a filler opening 3, and a compressed air pipe 4: leads from the top of the tank to an air pump of any one of the well known constructions which is attached to the motor of the truck so. as to be driven thereby. This air pump is not shown on the drawing, but is conveniently located upon the engine or under the hood of the truck.

An oil supply pipe 5 connects with the bottom of the fuel tank 1 and extends forwardly to the front of the motor truck. A valve 6 is conveniently interposed in the length of this pipe 5 and this valve is shown as provided with a handle '7, which can be IOU conveniently manipulated by a driver while sitting upon the drivers seat 8 of the truck. As indicated more clearly by Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing, the forward end of the oil supply pipe 5 is attached to the front axle 9 of the truck, being bent laterally so that it can extend along the front axle to substantially the middle portion thereof. Suitable fastening means, such as the clamping devices 10 are utilized for rigidly securing the pipe 5 to the front axle. The extremity of the pipe is extended upwardly at 5 and connected by a hinge joint 11" to a forward ly extending arm or pipe section 11. This arm is free to swing laterally in a horizontal plane, and the swinging end of the arm is supported by a wire or tie member 12. The lower end of the tie member engages a hooked bracket 13 on the swinging arm, while the upper end of the tie member engages a hooked bracket 1% which is suitably attached to some part of the motor truck, such as the top of the radiator at the forward end thereof. The tie member 12 thus supports the swinging end of the forwardly projecting arm or pipe section 11, without interfering in any manner with the lateral swinging of the said arm.

The forward extremity of the swinging arm 11 is suitably connected by means of the T coupling 15 to the middle portion of a transversely extending pipe 16. The two ends of this transverse pipe 16 are connected by means of swivel joints 17 to forwardly extending arms 18 which mount ed to swing in vertical planes. The swing ing ends of the arms are connected with a tubular axle 19 which extends through the snow melting roller 2. By swinging the arms 18 upon the swivel joints 17 the snow melting roller can be moved up and down, and it is adapted to be swung upwardly into an inoperative position as indicated by dotted lines on Figure 1. It will also be obvious that when the supporting arm or pipe section 11 is swung laterally about the joint 11 the snow melting roller can be correspondingly swung either to the right or to the left. In order to make the construction rigid the ends of the transverse pipe 16 are shown as connected by the diagonal braces 20 to the supporting arm or pipe section 11. The various tubular arms and pipe sections are all in communication with the oil supply pipe 5, and serve a means for feeding the liquid fuel to the burners which are utilized for heating the snow melting roller.

Arranged within the interior of the snow melting roller 2 at the upper portion thereof is a series of longitudinally extending burner pipes 21, each of which is provided at intervals throughout its length with the burner tips 22. These burner pipes are connected at their opposite ends to curved pipes 23, which are supported upon the axle by suitable brackets 24-, and which communicate with the axle through the short feed pipes 25. The burner pipes are thus connected with the tubular axle so that they receive a supply of fuel oil therefrom, and when the burners are in operation a jet of flam issues from each of the tips 22, the many jets of flame acting upon the interior surface of the roller to maintain the roller in a highly heated condition. The roller 2 is preferably formed of some material such as sheet metal which is a good conductor of heat, and the ends thereof are provided with bearings 2 so that a good bearing is obtained upon the axle.

r'irranged over the snow melting roller 2 is a hood 26, said hood having end members which are provided with bearings 27 re ceiving the axle. The rear edge of the hood is also en aged by a transverse bar 28 which extends under the same and has end portions thereof in engagement with the side arms 18. The hood is thus mounted in position. so that it extends over and encloses the upper portion of the snow melting roller 2. Arranged within tl e hood are a series of longitudinally extending burner pipes 29, each of which is provided with a series of burner tips 30. These longitudinally extending pipes :29 are connected at their ends to transversely disposed curved pipes 31 which are arranged within end portions of the hood, being connected by feed pipes 32 to the side arms 18. ll hen these burners are in operation a jet of flame issues from each of the tips 30, and the flames act upon the outer surface of the snow melting roller 2, so that they will cooperate with the inside burners to heat the roller to the required temperature. The interior and exterior burners may be used either separately or in connection with each other, as may be found to produce the best results. The side arms 18 are provided with suitable valves 33 which control the interior burners, while the feed pipes 32 are provided with valves 34 which control the outside burners. Under extreme conditions both sets of burners may be used, although under other conditions either the exterior burners or interior burners may be used as may be desired.

It is contemplated to provide a means whereby the snow melting roller 2 will be automatically swung to the right or to the left when a change is made in the direction in which the truck is moving. Where this is desired the cap 35 of the joint 11 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 36 (see Figs. 5 and 6) and this arm engages a forked bracket 37 which is suitably mounted upon the connecting rod 38 of the steering gear of the truck. The movements of this connecting rod 38 which are incident to steering the truck will thus operate automatically to swing the supporting arm or pipe section 11 upon the hinge joint 11 and move the snow melting roller laterally in the direction in which the truck is being turned.

A possible construction for the joint 11 is shown on Figure 7. The cap at the rear end of the arm 11 fits over the upwardly projecting extremity 5 of the oil supply pipe, and a suitable gasket or packing ring 39 is interposed between the two members. A ring 40 may be threaded or otherwise fitted upon the extremity 5* of the oil supply pipe, and a cooperating ring 41 is applied to the cap 35 to hold the cap in p0sition. The forwardly extending pipe section 11 is thus free to swing laterally, although it is maintained in communication with the oil supply pipe 5.

ne manner of constructing the swivel joints 17 is indicated by Figure 8. The rear ends of the side arms 18 terminate in caps 42 which fit over the ends of the transverse pipe 16. A packing ring or gasket 43 is provided in each joint, and a ring 44 is applied to the cap for cooperating with a head 45 on the horizontal pipe to retain the cap in position. The side arms 18 are thus free to swing up and down in vertical planes, although they are at all time maintained in communication with the transverse pipe 16 and the oil supply pipe.

Suitable means may be provided for raising and lowering the snow melting roller 2, and one arrangement for accomplishing this result is shown by the drawings. A cable 46 has one end thereof connected at 47 to the hood 26. This cable extends upwardly and rearwardly to a reel 48 which is suitably mounted upon the dash board of the vehicle, an intermediate portion of the cable being engaged by a suitable guide member 49 which is arranged at the top of the radiator at the front of the truck. Any suitable form of gearing 56 may be provided for turning the reel, and this gearing may be operated by a crank handle 51 which is arranged in such a position that it can be conveniently grasped by the driver of the truck without the necessity of leaving his seat. This enables the driver to raise and lower the snow melting roller as may be desired, and when the snow melting device is not in use the roller can be swung upwardly into an out of the way position, as indicated by dotted lines on Figure 1.

In the operation of the device the roller is heated by the burners, as previously explained. As the truck is advanced the heated roller rests upon and travels along the street pavement, melting the snow and converting it into water, which is readily carried away by the drainage and sewage system of the town or city. This provides a quick and economical means for removing the snow from the streets and pavements, and enables the snow to be removed at a fraction of the expense which is incident to shoveling the snow into wagons and cartin it away.

. hile one particular embodiment of my invention has been illustrated and described in detail for the purpose of explaining the invention, it will be understood that I do not restrict myself to the details of construction and that many modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a snow converting apparatus, a melt ing drum, a hood enclosing) the upper portion thereof, a plurality of urners mounted within the hood and disposed to impinge a flame against a material area of the upper periphery of said drum, and means for advancing said drum.

2. In a snow converting apparatus, a melting drum, a hood enclosing the upper portion thereof, a plurality of burners mounted within the hood and disposed to impinge a. flame against a material area of the upper periphery of said drum, a plurality of burners mounted within the drum and disposed to impinge a flame against the inner surface of the upper periphery thereof, and means for advancing said drum.

3. A snow converting apparatus including a fuel supply pipe, a snow melting drum,

tubular members supporting the snow melting drum and in communication with the fuel supply pipe, a. joint interposed in the tubular members topermit swinging of the drum, and burners for heating the drum, said burners receiving their supply of fuel through the fuel supply pipe and tubular members.

4. A snow converting apparatus including a fuel supply pipe, a snow melting drum, tubular members supporting the snow melting drum and in communication with the fuel supply pipe, a plurality of joints in the tubular members to permit swinging of the drum in different directions, and burners for heating the drum, said burners receiving their fuel supply through the fuel supply pipe and tubular members.

5. A snow converting apparatus including a hollow melting drum, a tubular axle upon which the drum is mounted, a series of burner pipes arranged within the drum adjacent the periphery thereof and provided with burner tips disposed so that sheets of flame issuing therefrom will impinge upon the upper surface of the drum, a connection between the burner pipes and the hollow axle, and means for supplying fuel to the hollow axle,

6. A snow converting apparatus including a hollow melting drum, a tubular axle upon which the drum is mounted, a hood extending over a portion of the drum, tubular arms supporting the axle and communieating with the interior thereof, a series of burner pipes arranged within the drum in feeding connection with said axle, a second series of burner pipes arranged Within the hood and provided with tips, the tips being so disposed that sheets of flame issuing from the two sets of tips will act upon the drum both internally and externally, and means for supplying fuel to the burner pipes through the tubular arms and tubular axle.

7. A snow converting apparatus including a hollow melting drum, a tubular axle upon which the melting drum is mounted, a series of burner pipes extending longitudinally through the drum and provided with tips, curved pipes supporting the ends of the burner pipes concentric to and adjacent the upper surface of the drum to impinge a flame thereon and communicating with the tubular axle, and means for supplying fuel to the tubular axle.

8. A snow converting apparatus including a truck provided with a steering gear, a melting drum carried by the truck, and means actuated by the steering gear for swinging the melting drum laterally.

9. A snow converting apparatus including a truck provided with a steering gear, a melting drum mounted thereon, means for moving the melting drum up and down, and means actuated by the steering gear for swinging the melting drum laterally.

10. A snow converting apparatus including a truck provided with a fuel tank, a fuel supply pipe leading from the truck, a tubular supporting arm hingedly connected to the fuel supply pipe so that it can swing in one direction, and tubular arms carried by the supporting arm and mounted to swing in another direction, a snow melting drum mounted upon the tubular arms, and burners for heating the snow melting drum, said burners receiving their fuel supply through the tubular arms.

11. A snow converting apparatus includ ing a truck, a fuel tank thereon, a fuel supply pipe leading from the tank, a tubular supporting arm hingedly connected to the fuel supply pipe and arranged to swing laterally, tubular arms carried by the supporting arm and arranged to swing vertically, a melting drum mounted between the vertically swinging arms, and burners for heating the melting drum, said burners receiving their fuel supply through the tubular arms and fuel supply pipe.

12. A snow converting apparatus including a truck having a front axle, a fuel tank upon the truck, a fuel supply pipe leading from the tank to the front axle, a tubular supporting arm hingedly connected to the end of the fuel supply pipe and projecting forwardly from the front axle, said supporting arm being arranged to swing horizontally, a swinging brace connected to the projecting end of the supporting arm, a melting drum carried by the supporting arm, burners for heating the melting drum, said burners receiving fuel through the tubular arm and fuel supply pipe, and means for swinging the arm laterally.

13. A snow converting apparatus including a truck having the usual steering gear and front axle, a fuel tank on the truck, a fuel supply pipe leading from the tank to the front axle, tubular supporting arms extending forwardly from the front axle and hingedly connected to the end of the fuel supply pipe so as to swing laterally, an operative connection between the said forwardly projecting supporting arm and the steering gear of the truck, whereby the arm will be swung by the steering gear,'a melting drum carried by the supporting arm, and a burner for heating the melting drum, said burner receiving fuel through the tubular supporting arm and fuel supply pipe.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

OWEN T. BUGG. 

